Many of Bega Valley's residents who had their properties damaged by bushfire have been given a gift to make their lives a little easier, as Rural Aid has delivered 207 water tanks to the region. The delivery of 1000litre Schutz IBC water tanks was made possible by a donation from News Corp, and they were being unloaded at Cobargo on Thursday morning to be distributed across the shire. Cobargo Bushfire Relief Centre joint coordinator Chris Walters said residents' water infrastructure had been damaged in the fires. READ ALSO: Tents, sheds, caravans: How bushfire-impacted residents are living as winter nears "People have been using bottled water, filling up drums, or giving their animals what they know is not good water out of necessity," she said. "So these will make all the difference because they will have clean drinking water for themselves and their properties. "Also, it could well mean, for some people, they can move back onto their properties. "I'm just amazed that people have managed for this long without water." Last summer's bushfires destroyed 466 homes across the shire, covered about 58 per cent of the Bega Valley and took four lives. Business development manager for Rural Aid Craig Marsh said the water tanks, which he believed cost about $4 to fill up, would be given to verified, aid-registered residents across the shire, with one tank per household. "This will give people a water source that will keep them going for a couple of weeks, depending on consumption," he said. "We're hoping that it gives people a sense of hope that things have turned around." READ ALSO: Analysis: Bushfire relief efforts in Bega Valley and what it's costing While they were delivered to Cobargo on Thursday, residents were coming to collect the tanks from Kiah, Pericoe, Wyndham, Bemboka, Quaama and other areas in between over the rest of the week. Ms Walters thanked Rural Aid and the other joint coordinator of her bushfire relief centre, Danielle Murphy, for their work to make the delivery happen. "It's the culmination of a lot of hard work by a lot of people," she said.

Business development manager for Rural Aid Craig Marsh said the water tanks, which he believed cost about $4 to fill up, would be given to verified, aid-registered residents across the shire, with one tank per household.

"This will give people a water source that will keep them going for a couple of weeks, depending on consumption," he said.

"We're hoping that it gives people a sense of hope that things have turned around."